Yes — and Alberta is one of the places where it genuinely matters. It is also one of the cheapest problems to fix.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by uranium decaying in soil and rock. It enters homes through foundation cracks, sump pits, floor drains and service penetrations, and it accumulates in the lowest occupied level. Prairie geology and tightly sealed modern construction combine to make elevated readings more common here than in many parts of Canada.
Health Canada's guideline is 200 becquerels per cubic metre. Above that, remediation is recommended. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, which is why this is on the list at all — it is a health question rather than a property-value one.
A reliable radon measurement is a long-term test — ideally 91 days or more, in the heating season, because levels vary enormously day to day and are highest when a house is closed up. That does not fit inside a normal condition period.
Practical options: ask the seller whether the home has ever been tested and for the results; use a short-term test during conditions knowing it is indicative rather than conclusive; or buy and test properly afterwards, budgeting for mitigation if needed. Newer homes may have a rough-in for a radon system already, which makes mitigation simpler — worth asking about.
Radon is one of the few findings on this list with a reliable, permanent, comparatively inexpensive fix. Active sub-slab depressurisation — a pipe and a fan that vents soil gas above the roofline — routinely brings high readings down dramatically. It is a day's work for a certified installer, and it does not affect how the house lives.
Because the fix is well understood and bounded, an elevated radon result is a negotiation, not a reason to abandon a house you want. We cover the detail in the Calgary radon testing guide.